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Molybdenum sulfide/graphene-carbon nanotube nanocomposite material for electrocatalytic applications in hydrogen evolution reactions

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Abstract

We report a three-dimensional hierarchical ternary hybrid composite of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), reduced graphene oxide (GO), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) prepared by a two-step process. Firstly, reduced GO–CNT composites with three-dimensional microstructuresare synthesized by hydrothermal treatment of an aqueous dispersion of GO and CNTs to form a composite structure via π–π interactions. Then, MoS2 nanoparticles are hydrothermally grown on the surfaces of the GO–CNT composite. This ternary composite shows superior electrocatalytic activity and stability in the hydrogen evolution reaction, with a low onset potential of only 35 mV, a Tafel slope of ~38 mV·decade−1, and an apparent exchange current density of 74.25 mA·cm−2. The superior hydrogen evolution activity stemmed from the synergistic effect of MoS2 with its electrocatalytically active edge-sites and excellent electrical coupling to the underlying graphene and CNT network.

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Correspondence to Majid Khan or Zemin Qi.

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Khan, M., Yousaf, A.B., Chen, M. et al. Molybdenum sulfide/graphene-carbon nanotube nanocomposite material for electrocatalytic applications in hydrogen evolution reactions. Nano Res. 9, 837–848 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-015-0963-z

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